December 27, 1998
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – All five Notre Dame starters scored in double figures for the second straight game as the Irish beat St. Francis 99-88 on Sunday.
The Irish (7-5) scored more points than they have in any game this season and extended their winning streak to five games.
Antoni Wyche and Troy Murphy each scored 20 points for Notre Dame. David Graves and Martin Ingelsby had 18 points each. And the fifth starter, center Phil Hickey, added 10.
Notre Dame took control in the first half. Wyche scored three fast break layups and Ingelsby hit a pair of 3-pointers during a 23-7 Irish run. Notre Dame led 47-31 at halftime.
“We just wanted to get out and run,” said Wyche, who scored most of his points on layups. “I was just able to finish.”
The two teams combined for 29 turnovers in the first half and 39 for the game. Most were by Notre Dame, but St. Francis had its share too – especially early.
“They were quicker than we were,” said Notre Dame coach John MacLeod. “Thats way, way too many turnovers if were going to be a real, real good team.”
The Irish coach couldnt help but be pleased with the balance his team had. The Irish seemed to have no other options the past few years besides Pat Garrity – a first-round NBA selection this past year.
“It makes it tougher for the defenses to guard us,” MacLeod said of the balanced attack. “Other players are comfortable shooting the ball.”
Ten of 11 players St. Francis coach Ron Ganulin used in the first half committed a turnover.
“It was a lack of focus and a lack of intensity,” said Ganulin, who said his assistants told him his team looked lousy in pre-game warmups.
“I told them in the lockerroom, maybe it was the Christmas vacation, maybe it was the travel, you know, maybe its Notre Dame.”
The Irish made 61 percent of their shots from the field, while the Terriers (5-4) shot 41 percent.
Notre Dame held St. Francis’ top two scorers – Ray Minlend and Angel Santana – to a combined six points in the first half. The duo came in averaging a combined 37 points per game.
Minlend ended up with 20 points to lead the Terriers, who lost for the first time in five outings. Richy Dominguez scored 17 for the Terriers while Solomon Abel chipped in with 12.